OpenSea Complete Guide
OpenSea is the world's largest NFT marketplace. Here's everything you need to know to buy, sell, and browse safely.
Getting Started with OpenSea
Connect Your Wallet:
- Go to opensea.io (type directly!)
- Click wallet icon in top right
- Select MetaMask (or your wallet)
- Approve connection in wallet popup
- You're connected!
Fake OpenSea sites steal your NFTs. ALWAYS type the URL directly or use a bookmark. Never click OpenSea links from emails, Discord, or social media.
Understanding the Interface:
- Explore - Browse trending collections
- Stats - See market data and rankings
- Profile - View your NFTs and activity
- Search - Find specific collections or NFTs
Supported Networks:
- Ethereum (most NFTs)
- Polygon (cheap minting/trading)
- Solana (separate ecosystem)
Buying NFTs on OpenSea
Method 1: Buy Now
- Find NFT you want to buy
- Check the "Buy now" price
- Click "Buy now"
- Review transaction details
- Confirm in your wallet
- Pay NFT price + gas fees
- NFT transfers to your wallet!
Method 2: Make an Offer
- Click "Make offer" on any NFT
- Enter your offer amount (in WETH)
- Set expiration date
- Sign the offer (no gas fee)
- If seller accepts, trade executes
ETH: Used for "Buy now" purchases
WETH (Wrapped ETH): Used for offers and auctions
You can wrap/unwrap ETH for free on OpenSea.
Before Buying - Checklist:
- ✓ Blue verification checkmark
- ✓ Reasonable floor price and volume
- ✓ Active trading history
- ✓ Official links match project's social
- ✓ Contract address verified
Selling NFTs on OpenSea
Listing Your NFT:
- Go to your Profile
- Click on NFT you want to sell
- Click "List for sale"
- Choose listing type:
- Fixed price - Set your price
- Timed auction - Bidding
- Set your price
- Set duration (1 day - 6 months)
- Sign listing (gas-free on most networks)
OpenSea Fees:
| Fee Type | Amount | Who Pays |
|---|---|---|
| OpenSea Fee | 2.5% | Seller |
| Creator Royalty | 0-10% | Seller |
| Gas (on sale) | Variable | Buyer |
- Check floor price of collection
- Price slightly below similar listings for faster sale
- Rare traits = price above floor
- Don't price too high or you'll never sell
Staying Safe on OpenSea
Red Flags - Don't Buy:
- No blue checkmark on popular collections
- Price way below floor - often fake
- Very new collection copying famous art
- Suspicious offers from unknown buyers
- Hidden content warning - usually scam
Common Scams:
1. Fake Collections - Same art, different contract
2. Phishing Sites - opensea.io is the ONLY real site
3. Fake Offers - $10,000 offer in worthless token
4. Airdrop Scams - NFTs that drain wallet when you interact
5. Discord DM Scams - "Support" asking for seed phrase
Safety Checklist:
- ✓ Bookmark opensea.io
- ✓ Never connect to unknown sites
- ✓ Use a burner wallet for new mints
- ✓ Verify collection before buying
- ✓ Don't click links in DMs
- ✓ Revoke permissions regularly
Random NFTs appearing in your wallet's "Hidden" section are almost always scam tokens. Don't try to sell or interact with them - just leave them hidden forever.